Ball practice device

ABSTRACT

Ball practice support structure providing high strength, durability, and adjustable features while being collapsible for shipment and storage. This support structure is adaptable to either overhead, sidewall, or combination of overhead and sidewall mounting. Telescopic support arms permit adjustment of the position of a tethered ball in relation to overhead or sidewall.

United States Patent 1 1 3,716,235 Yerkie, Jr. {4 1 Feb. 13, 1973 BALL PRACTICE DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS nt r: J h e J BOX 175,926 3 1922 Great Britain ..273 200 R Route No. 1, Clinton, Md. 20735 [22] Filed: June 16, 1970 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerTheatrice Brown 1 p No.1 46,772 AttorneyShanley & ONeil 52 0.5. CI. ..273/26 E, 248/298 [571 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..'A63b 69/40 Ball practice support structure providing high [58] Fleld of Search "273/26 E, 95 29 58 strength, durability, and adjustable features while 273/200 R; 272/771 62 being collapsible for shipment and storage. This support structure is adaptable to either overhead, [56] References cued sidewall, or combination of overhead and sidewall UNITED STATES PATENTS mounting. Telescopic support arms permit adjustment of the position of a tethered ball in relation to over- 3,366,383 1/1968 Len-tine ..273/26 E head or sidewall. 2,932,510 4/1960 Kravitz ....272/62 2,890,049 6/1959 Lewis ..272/78 '2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures fis 7! 4 H E 2. 22 1i t 1 llllmlmmll I6 36 .8

l4 I 1 "-77, l i 10 i l 40 l |o l1 1 I o 1 l PATENTED FEB I 3 I975 SHEET 10F 2 FIG.

//VVE/V7'0R JOHN W YEHK/E JR A TTORIVEYS PATENTEUFE'BIBIQYS 3.7163235 JOHN W YERK/E JR .5)

ATTORNEYS BALL PRACTICE DEVICE This invention relates to a ball practice device supporting a tethered ball. In its more specific aspects, adjustable handling, mounting, and ball support features are provided in a ball practice device which make it universally applicable, i.e., for home use by youngsters or for professional use.

The principles of the invention provide an inexpensive game structure for use by young baseball enthusiasts to attain batting skill and, at the same time, a rugged structure which can be used by professional baseball players to maintain their batting proficiency. The invention provides a realistic form of batting practice without ball retrieval or ball delivery problems by presenting a conventional baseball which, may be hit within a confined space and which, is automatically presented for repeated hitting.

A structure is provided having suitable adaptability to satisfy all normal loading requirements including professional use. Yet, the invention makes a basic contribution by providing a rugged, simplified structure which is easy to manufacture, ship, mount, adjust, and use, making it ideal as a gift or a toy.

It is an object to provide tethered ball support structure which returns the practice ball, by swinging movement to practice position without the need for netting or padding to intercept the ball and absorb its impact.

The invention furnishes an integrally assembled support which consists of pivotally connecting components which can be simply folded when shipped, or when not in use, and readily unfolded for attachment to supporting structure when ready for use.

The invention furthermore furnishes a support structure which is simple in construction, of high strength, and providing great durability and freedom from maintenance.

The invention also furnishes a support which may be readily mounted to overhead and/or sidewalls and which is adaptable for installation in a wide variety of facilities indoor or outdoor, such as homes, garages. gyms, backstops, and the like.

The invention further provides a device for practice which avoids high reaction loadings by furnishing means to suspend a ball for a full 360 free swing upon hitting of the ball which is suitable for baseball, softball, volleyball, and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from a detailed description of the specific structure shown in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a batting practice device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a reduced side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 in a sidewall support installation;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an overhead and sidewall installation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing overhead installation; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an overhead-beam installation.

Referring to FIG. 1, elongated support structure includes a pair of parallel, co-planar support arm means indicated generally at 10. The support arm means are identical and although only one is specifically described, it should be understood that such description applies equally to both. The support arm means 10 comprise a tubular sleeve 12 which slidably receives an extendable arm 14. The extendable arm 14 includes a plurality of spaced holes 16 for adjustment of its length within sleeve 12. Adjustment pin 18 is fitted through a hole in the arm 16 and in the sleeve 12 to fix the overall length of the elongated support arm means 10.

Removal of pins 18 permits movement of the extendable arm 14 to realign adjustment holes. The length of the arms can be adjusted as desired and locked into position with pin 18 and locking nut. Other telescopic or similar slidable adjustment structures can be substituted for that shown, if of suitable strength, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The support arm means 10 are provided at one end with means, for mounting the device and, providing a type of backbone strengthening of the structure. As shown, this means comprises an integral angle iron member 20 interconnecting ends 19 of sleeves l2. Separate pieces of metal rather than an integral angle iron can also be used.

A brace 22, pivotally connected to the side of sleeve 12 by a fastener 24, serves to brace the elongated arm support means 10 once channel member 20 is connected to a support. The brace 22 can be formed from a flat, elongated, heavy-gage metal which is twisted proximate its non-pivoted end forming structure securing means 26. Fastener receiving holes 28 are provided at such end of the brace means.

As can be seen by reference to FIGS. 2 through 5, the securing means 26 is also formed at an angle with brace 22. Such braces 22 can be pivotally swung in a plane parallel to the sidewall portion of sleeve 12 to which they are attached. They thus can be folded into co-planar relationship with the elongated support arms 10 for shipment, or storage, providing a flat and compact structure when not in use.

At the secured end 21 of elongated arm support members 10, sleeve 12 can be secured, such as by welding, or otherwise joined to backbone channel member 20. For example, the elongated arm support means 10 can be joined to backbone channel 20 by hinge means by selection of bearing and pin means for the end 21 of sleeve 12 which provide the required strength and rigidity. Such bearing and pin support means are shown schematically at 28 in FIG. 2.

While hinged type support for ends 21 of sleeves 12 increases the flexibility of the structure in that it can be readily demounted (by leaving angle iron member 20 in place) or the structure can be more readily folded out of the way, it is a refinement not considered essential for use of the basic invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, angle iron member 20 is provided with holes 30 along both surfaces for mounting of the device. At the working end of elongated support arms 10, cross arm 32 interconnects extendable arms 14. Substantially midway of cross arm 32, a bearing 34 having an arcuate track is provided. A double-ended hook 36, having one end formed around bearing 34 to ride in the track is connected to a baseball 38 by tether 40. The tether is preferably connected to the baseball 38 by means of an eyebolt 42 disposed through tubing, such as a copper tube (not shown) which is fitted in a hole drilled through the baseball 38.

The device is used by suspending the ball for hitting with the usual substantially horizontal swing. The ball when struck will are around the cross member 32 on the bearing 34 until the energy imparted to the ball is expended, or the ball player reverses his position to strike the ball while in movement.

In FIGS. 2 through selected arrangements for installing the device are shown. In FIG. 2 a wall installation is shown in which member is attached by means of screws, molly bolts, or other appropriate fastening devices to wall 44. The brace securing means 26 are also fastened to wall 44. Arms 14 are extended from sleeves l2 and the ball 38 depends at right angles to elongated support arms 10.

In FIG. 3 the device is installed with the angle member 20 attached to the wall 44 with the securing means 26 of the braces 22 attached to ceiling beams 46.

In FIG. 4 the device is installed totally on ceiling 47 with both the angle member and the braces connected to the ceiling.

FIG. 5 illustrates still another installation with the angle member 20 affixed to ceiling 46 and the braces attached to a beam 48 or other structure. Other arrangements will be available by inverting other portions of this structure to provide further flexibility so that the device may be used in numerous installation situations.

One of the advantages of the invention is the simplified fixed angle relationship between the securing end 26 and the remainder of the brace 22 in the embodiment shown and the adaptability of such arrangement to various installation situations. It is possible however to fabricate brace 22 to be extensible in length with overlapping portions and an interlocking arrangement as shown schematically at 50 in FIG. 4. Movement of the pivotal connection 24 along the longitudinal axis is taught for this purpose and/or means (not shown) for changing the angled relationship of securing means 26 and the brace means 22.

Such refinements, as with the bearing and pin support 28 of FIG. 2 described earlier, add to the adaptability of the device for various types of installation and increase the ease of folding away or stowing the device. However, one of the major contributions of the invention is the simplicity and adaptability of the basic structure shown in FIG. 1. However, other refinements than those described can be made to the basic support structure without departing from the spirit of the invention which is indicated by the appended claims.

In one specific embodiment of the invention the members of the structure have been selected from V4 inch steel plate stock. For example, brace 22 is inch thick steel, an inch and a V4 in width, and approximately 23 inches in length. Sleeve 12 is approximately 30 inches in length and channel member 20 is approximately 24 inches in length. The dimensions of other portions of the structure can be estimated from such data.

Neither the selection of steel nor the dimensions given are meant to limit the scope of the invention. Other metals and alloys for example aluminum alloys, and certain plastic materials of sufficient strength, for example fiber-reinforced plastic, can be substituted for a portion or all of the structure.

What is claimed is: 1. Device for supporting a practice ball in free-swinging relationship to a positionally fixed support structure comprising elongated arm means supporting a freely rotatable means for suspending a tethered practice ball in free-swinging relationship,

means for adjusting the length of the elongated arm means,

means at one longitudinal end of the elongated arm means for securing the elongated are means to positionally fixed support structure, and

brace means pivotally connected to the elongated arm means intermediate its longitudinal ends,

the pivotally connected brace means being pivotable from a position substantially parallel and co-planar to the elongated arm means to an angled position for bracing the elongated arm means to positionally fixed support structure.

2. The device of claim 1 including a cross member means at the opposite longitudinal end of the elongated arm means form its secured end, wherein said means for suspending a tethered practice ball is on the cross member means.

* I! III l 

1. Device for supporting a practice ball in free-swinging relationship to a positionally fixed support structure comprising elongated arm means supporting a freely rotatable means for suspending a tethered practice ball in free-swinging relationship, means for adjusting the length of the elongated arm means, means at one longitudinal end of the elongated arm means for securing the elongated are means to positionally fixed support structure, and brace means pivotally connected to the elongated arm means intermediate its longitudinal ends, the pivotally connected brace means being pivotable from a position substantially parallel and co-planar to the elongated arm means to an angled position for bracing the elongated arm means to positionally fixed support structure.
 1. Device for supporting a practice ball in free-swinging relationship to a positionally fixed support structure comprising elongated arm means supporting a freely rotatable means for suspending a tethered practice ball in free-swinging relationship, means for adjusting the length of the elongated arm means, means at one longitudinal end of the elongated arm means for securing the elongated are means to positionally fixed support structure, and brace means pivotally connected to the elongated arm means intermediate its longitudinal ends, the pivotally connected brace means being pivotable from a position substantially parallel and co-planar to the elongated arm means to an angled position for bracing the elongated arm means to positionally fixed support structure. 